"It’s a rare feat to stare into the fog and emerge with deep insight, but that’s exactly what de Benedictis-Kessner’s book accomplishes. Observers of American politics have long thought that local governments’ proximity to their citizens makes it easier for voters to hold politicians accountable. But through state-of-the-art analyses of survey and election data, this book upends that view. Complex institutions, uncompetitive elections, and thin media coverage conspire to limit local accountability."   

Daniel Hopkins | University of Pennsylvania

"de Benedictis-Kessner has collected incredible data and provided readers with inventive analyses that contribute much to our knowledge of accountability in local government.”

Brian Schaffner | coauthor of "Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail"

"Can democracy function in our smallest communities? In this meticulously researched account, de Benedictis-Kessner offers reason for skepticism. Due to a paucity of information, anemic electoral competition, overlapping and confusing responsibilities, holding elected officials accountable for failures and rewarding them for successes is often elusive (though not impossible). Using incredible new data, this book deftly moves between individual and aggregate patterns to present a clear-eyed, holistic account of local elections.”

Jessica Trounstine | author of "Segregation by Design: Local Politics and Inequality in American Cities"